Extension | The Color of Beets (2024)

Extension | The Color of Beets (1)

Beets come in many colors – white, golden, red, purple and even candy-striped. Plus, the bright green tops are edible too! Plant a rainbow in your own garden by planting a mixture of varieties like Red Ace, red beets with red-veined leaves; Kestrel, deep red, sweet baby beets; Bull’s Blood, a dark red beet used for the tops; Touchstone Gold, a beet with a bright gold inside and green tops; and Guardsmark Chioggia, an Italian heirloom beet variety that is exceptionally sweet and has concentric rings of white and red inside.

Beets are a cool-season crop harvested for their leaves and roots. Start planting beets in April and seed or transplant every two weeks; however, remember that extended hot, dry weather will not produce quality beets. Beets are an excellent fall crop that can be seeded in August for harvest in October. While beets can tolerate partial shade, they don’t grow successfully with uneven moisture or crowding. Loose soil high in organic matter is best for beets, and keep them covered with soil as they grow to avoid a tough, corky layer from developing. Beets are botanically related to spinach and Swiss chard, so avoid planting beets in the same areas you had these crops for about two years. Harvest when beets are between 1 and 3 inches in diameter.

This vegetable is a great source of folate, fiber, manganese, potassium, iron and vitamin C. But, the true power of beetsis in their color, which comes from a chemical called betalain. Betalain is a natural, water-soluble red dye that is used in many foods and cosmetics. Red and yellow beets provide natural antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties. The stronger the color, the more healthy chemicals are in the vegetable. Eating beets and their greens also can help reduce cholesterol.

By Karen Cox, WVU Extension Agent – Ohio County


First published:

Extension | The Color of Beets (2024)

FAQs

How long after eating beets will my urine be red? ›

Betanin is the beetroot pigment that is absorbed by the body upon eating beets, and as a result, may turn your poop and pee pink or red for up to 48 hours after consumption—a phenomenon called beeturia. It's generally harmless and no cause for concern.

What color is your urine when you drink beet juice? ›

Can Beets Make Your Pee (And Poop) Red or Pink? Yes, eating beets or drinking beet juice can give your urine and/or your stool a slightly reddish or pink tinge. This phenomenon, called beeturia, is usually not cause for alarm. Some studies show it affects up to 14 percent of the beet-eating population.

What is the color additive in beet juice? ›

It is used to color a variety of organic and non-organic foods, including processed cheese, frosting, dairy products, yogurt, and confectionery (candy). Beet Juice adds a red or pink color to foods, depending upon the exact concentration used.

Is it okay to drink beet juice every day? ›

Can I drink beetroot juice every day? Drinking a regular-sized glass of beetroot juice everyday shouldn't cause any adverse effects, although one study did find that those who drank one 250ml glass a day lowered blood pressure but did experience a change in the colour of their urine.

Are beets good for your kidneys? ›

Beets can keep your kidneys and liver healthy.

So eat beets in moderation if you're prone to kidney stones.

Can you eat beets every day? ›

Can you eat beets everyday? It's always best to follow a varied diet. Eating a small amount of beetroot every day is unlikely to do any harm, but a high intake could lead to low blood pressure, red or black urine and feces, and digestive problems for anyone with a sensitivity to the nutrients.

How to tell the difference between beet juice in stool and blood? ›

Because the intake of iron, bismuth or foods like beets can give the stool the same appearance as bleeding from the digestive tract, a doctor must test the stool for blood before offering a diagnosis. Other symptoms: Bright red blood coating the stool.

How do you drink beet juice without staining your teeth? ›

To limit the ability of the beet's coloring to stain your teeth, brush your teeth within 60 minutes of consumption.

Is beetroot red Colouring safe? ›

Betanin, or beetroot red, is a red glycosidic food dye obtained from beets; its aglycone, obtained by hydrolyzing the glucose molecule, is betanidin. As a food additive, its E number is E162. As a food additive, betanin has no safety concerns.

Does beet juice clear arteries? ›

Although the exact mechanism is still under study, researchers believe that the natural nitrites in beet juice may act as blood vessel expanders, improving circulation. The widening of blood vessels not only enhances circulation but also reduces the risk of heart disease, atherosclerosis, and vascular disease.

Is it healthier to drink beet juice or eat beets? ›

Both eating beets and drinking beet juice will give you anti-inflammatory betalains and other phytonutrients. If you're looking to enhance athletic performance, drink up. Juicing beets delivers a concentrated dose of nitrates, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. However, you lose the fiber when you juice the beets.

Who should not drink beet juice? ›

Anyone who has low blood pressure or is currently taking blood pressure medication should speak with a healthcare professional before adding beets or beetroot juice to their diet. Beets contain high levels of oxalates, which can cause kidney stones in people with a high risk of this condition.

Can I drink coffee after drinking beet juice? ›

Combining beetroot juice and caffeine

While results showed no performance-enhancing effects of combining the supplements, there were improvements in running economy and performance in certain individuals when ingesting beetroot juice and caffeine in combination with each other.

How long does it take to digest beets? ›

All you need is about half of a raw beet, and the stomach to glance into your toilet after a successful bowel movement sometime in the near future—hopefully between 12 and 24 hours after you chow down on that beet. Holistic nutritionist Joy McCarthy said it's a simple way to “check your transit time.”

How long can beet juice stay in your system? ›

How Long Beeturia Lasts. Beeturia will stop once betalain is no longer in the diet. The urine color change may appear in the first few hours after drinking something containing beetroot. It may continue for a day or two after eating the coloring, especially in the stool.

Do beets lower blood pressure? ›

Beet juice may boost stamina to help you exercise longer, improve blood flow, and help lower blood pressure, some research shows. Why? Beets are rich in natural chemicals called nitrates. Through a chain reaction, your body changes nitrates into nitric oxide, which helps with blood flow and blood pressure.

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